Manny Ita –
The Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) has officially transitioned to a 100% digital registry, marking a significant overhaul of Nigeria’s corporate regulatory framework. Registrar-General Hussaini Ishaq Magaji, SAN, announced the development on Wednesday during a visit to the Minister of Information and National Orientation, noting that the shift is part of the commission’s 35th-anniversary milestones. Central to this digital transition is a strategic partnership with Google aimed at deploying artificial intelligence to automate business name reservations and public support services. The new AI-powered system is designed to provide real-time availability checks and suggestions, significantly reducing the traditional processing window for manual reviews.
The commission has also introduced a streamlined registration model that utilizes the National Identification Number (NIN) for immediate biometric verification. This integration allows entrepreneurs to complete company incorporations in as little as 10 to 30 minutes, with certificates automatically generated and delivered via electronic mail. To enhance security within the new framework, the CAC has implemented mandatory Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) for all post-incorporation filings. This measure ensures that only verified directors and authorized personnel can execute changes to corporate records, effectively mitigating the risks of identity theft and unauthorized document alterations.
Minister of Information Mohammed Idris praised the reforms, stating that the digitization efforts have already facilitated the formalization of over 4 million informal businesses. He further noted the role of the digital registry in the mandatory registration of Point of Sale (PoS) operators, a move intended to strengthen security and transparency within the fintech sector. The Registrar-General emphasized that these technological advancements align with the federal government’s broader economic goals, simplifying the ease of doing business by removing the necessity for physical visits to commission offices or the reliance on intermediaries for basic registration tasks.
With the launch of the “Intelligent CRP 3.0” portal, the CAC maintains that the corporate lifecycle—spanning from name reservation to the filing of annual returns—has been fully optimized for digital access. The commission expects the AI-driven support platform to handle a high volume of technical queries and regulatory inquiries, providing instant feedback to users. These reforms are viewed by federal authorities as a critical step in improving Nigeria’s international financial standing and ensuring a more transparent corporate environment.
